A guide to the best blooms to buy in winter

There’s nothing quite like filling your home with fresh florals or giving (and receiving!) them as gifts, as Amanda Costin from wildwaxyflorals tells us. Some of us have a soft spot for peonies while others can’t go past a gorgeous bunch of hydrangeas, but unfortunately not all our favourite flowers are available year-round - they're seasonal, which is why it's important to know (especially for brides) what is easiest (and most cost-effective) to get your hands on each season.

What’s in season in winter

There are some beautiful blooms in season at the moment, and early morning visits to the flower markets are definitely worth it.

Here are some of my favourites in season right now:

Blushing Brides

Anemones

Poppies

Violets

Ranunculus

Queen Anne’s Lace

Jasmine

Sweet Pea

Tulips

When choosing cut flowers, it’s best to follow a few simple steps to ensure you are taking home the freshest blooms:

1) Stems should be green and smooth, not discoloured and slimy.

2) Flowers with faded colours, transparent petals or petals that are turning brown and/or wilting should not be purchased.

3) Choose flowers with buds that are just starting to open, not fully blown.

4) Select flowers with healthy looking leaves.

Now you’re well equipped to head to the flower markets with confidence – enjoy your fresh blooms!

What are your favourite flowers? Do you visit the flower markets to buy them?

I wish someone would give me a fresh bunch of flowers, some people say they are a waste of money but I think they bring cheer and happiness to the home, so any added cheer and happiness is welcome in my home.

That is a handy list of winter blooms and oh how I love and adore the scent of sweet pea, so many childhood memories associated with that bloom. I must get some small bunches of these today, thanks for sharing.

Tulips are one of my favourite flowers and I also love violets in winter. I rarely buy flowers these days because they are so expensive. So I have phaelonopsis orchids and cyclamens in pots indoors which are economical and beautiful.

I do love fresh flowers, a bunch in a vase or beautiful old wash jug always makes me feel beautiful! It's hard in the winter to keep them for long with all the heating though. I tend to use a few artificial arrangements in the winter - but they are not the same as fresh! I sometimes just use greenery too ... anything "real" always looks beautiful!

What an uplifting article!! The photos are just glorious and it is so peaceful and inspiring. We have masses of camellias in our garden through winter and the daphne is starting to flower. I adore snowdrops - I know they're early spring rather than winter but they are so welcome when they flower.

We don't have a flower market here, although I've seen the flower stalls at South Melbourne markets and they are great, and do cheap compared to the florist!
I've been quite amazed at how good a lot of supermarket flowers are these days. When I was selling my house it was winter and I would bulk up my home grown displays with bunches from the supermarket.
I planted sweetness this year hoping for a beautiful display up the tennis court fence, but alas they look very sad, I think the birds keep pulling them from the ground, I often have to replant them. I did plant some miniature ones in a pot and they look really good, so should have some at least

Oh those flowers are just gorgeous! I never used to buy flowers for myself, but lately it's all I'm doing! I went the markets a few weeks ago and I bought the most beautiful peach coloured roses and I fell in love with them! They really brightened up my apartment and now I want to always have flowers in my home :)

I love having flowers in my home and I find that they brighten my home. I have found that with the bulbs that I have coming up that I will have alot of tulips and daffodils and jonquils are all on the move. I take them into my Dad and make sure he has flowers everyday, but only when they come from our garden. As he like my mum, they both use to say dont spend money on them. Just bring in what you grow. And when I have alot I take them into the care facility to share with some of the other residents.